In Dublin, a plan to build a new hospital for children was put forward but this has been refused by An Bord Pleanala. He has refused to grant the permission for initiating this project on the mater site in Dublin. This was a shocking decision for everyone, but Taoiseach Enda Kenny has assured that this national children’s hospital will be constructed very soon within the existence of this Government only.

It is expected that the Government will now try and make an effort to start with a scaled-down version of the children’s hospital at the Mater site. Till now, no decisions have been taken as the response from the two expert committees is still awaited.

Out of these two expert committees, one will discuss the issues related to this hospital project with Minister for Health James Reilly and the other will deal about the implications for the Coalition’s wider infrastructural programme with the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.

The second group that is reporting to Mr. Hogan is responsible to decide that whether the planning process is worth adapting or not. In consultations with An Bord Pleanála, it will decide whether it is suitable to permit the development of this project.

As told by the Taoiseach, the Government promised to offer people with this new national children’s hospital during its term of office.

This children’s hospital will be one of the biggest medical infrastructures in the entire history of Dublin. As told by Dr. Reilly last night, this hospital would be constructed either on the planned site at the Mater hospital or in a different place. He also specified that the Mater location had not been rejected till now for this €650 million worth hospital.